Endless life

Welcome to the prolific teaching ministry of Pastor Immanuel Ered, lead pastor of Celebration Church International. It is his vision to partner with you for your progress and joy in the faith. Ready? Set? Grow. Hallelujah, Christ, Lord, Father, we thank you, we give you the praise and glory. Thank you for all you've done for us in Christ. We give you the praise and glory in Jesus' mighty name with praise. Amen. Please welcome someone to your left until you're right. Say happy Easter, say cherub Jesus is alive, say you have endless life, show it, show it, show it, show it. You ought to be more excited than this. Christ, Lord, hallelujah, all right, I want to talk about something very important and I want to prefix what I want to discuss this morning by asking you the question is the gospel really good news to you. Come on I said is it really good news to you that sometime 2000 years ago some man died, rose again the third day and somehow that concerns you. Listen you have to understand that there are two miracles on a day like this. The first miracle is what happened that a man died and rose again the third day. The second miracle not as apparent as it should be is that you consider it a big deal. You have to understand that just the fact that you appreciate the message of the gospel especially on a day like this is a miracle. The Bible says the God of this world has blinded the eyes of them that believe not. Lest they see glory in the face of Jesus. The fact that you can see glory in the message and be excited about it is a miracle. It means that the stony heart has been taken out of your flesh and that you have received the heart of flesh that's in and of itself is a miracle. You know I was reading up on something the best news in the past let me say 100 years. What is the best news that mankind has received? What is that kind of news that set up excites me you know just the same way oh my God there is a particular president, past president in his nation when he died this was way before the advent of social media what announced it to us our TV was not on we had shouting on the streets market women bike man everybody so we came out what is happening I didn't say so when I was dying ah may or death not cause rejoice I mean I was very young and I was just like oh my God like I knew he was terrible what does man I knew how terrible so what is what are those key events in the history of humanity that's dead of nation wild or a desi global joy I read the reports mentioned in 50 of them in just the past few hundred years talked about the end of the second world war in 1945 the first treatment of chemotherapy you know I mean this at least gave some hope that medicine was making some advancement and handling the menace of cancer this was in 1956 or that women gained rights to vote in the UK 1928 or the first color television 1926 but here we are two thousand years after clearing with faith not with exaggeration we truly believe that there is still no greater news that the good news itself you truly genuinely believe that the violent of offenders who truly believes in moments with Jesus a pardon received despite where you've been what you've done that because of the sacrifice of Christ you have access to the father with boldness you walk into the throne room not as a visitor but someone who was bonded you understand what I'm saying what a great privilege that we should be called children of God and if you are here and you don't really see the excitement in what I just said you have to understand that the implications are very grief it is either you are not saved at all because the Bible says this is the God of this world that has plundered the eyes of them that believe believe not less they say glory meaning if your eyes were not blinded it will be good news to you too so either that or you've not been taught properly unfortunately a lot of people go to church for all the wrong reasons for everything except the thing and nothing challenges our priority like a day like this you know this is one day where at least nine out of ten churches will preach the gospel there are only two days in the year that all churches will at least preach the gospel Easter and Christmas anything in between whatever you hear you hear but I want you to know there is nothing if ever heard that is as exciting and as important as what you're about to hear right now do you truly believe that oh come on is it deep are you tired of a switch I said do you believe that I mean just think about it the shepherds are watching the flock by night and all of a sudden an angel appears and says glory to God in the highest peace on earth and goodwill to men now they're announcing good news and you want to know what's happening what could warrant this kind of excitement and you're wondering oh let me guess our nation is about to turn around because you have to understand at that time Jerusalem and Israel as they hold was colonized by the Roman Empire I mean so if you're saying there is good news God is announcing good news we must have been praying praying for national development so maybe you are here to tell us that just like God raised up Moses there is another person who is going to come and take us out of this menace but no that wasn't it in fact when Jesus grew up it looked like he was disappointing them because maybe I'm not taking initiative let us help you they took him forcefully at some point John in John 6 they try to make him a king and he ran away he didn't seem to have any political interest what kind of savior is this I mean if you call yourself a savior at a time where the nation is going through a lot and show yourself what else is salvation at a time where a nation is going through a lot the reason I'm saying this is because do you realize a lot of people say this today what is the church doing how come we have so many churches and the nation is like this well read your Bible well it was like that in Jesus is the the problem is a lot of people don't read their bibles they don't know the offering of the gospel they don't know what God offers national development is important but that's not the priority of the gospel you want national development get good leaders and it's convenient to push the book back to God and the church get good leaders that's what you need but you have to understand on a day like this there are bigger priorities this and that is important but there are bigger priorities they came to Jesus one day and he said ask him a question about taxes and he just said you know what give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar what kind of Savior is this we're going through a lot as a nation and so now we are thinking well maybe he's still going to do it but it's not time but then he finishes his ministry dies rises again now is about to accent and accept the one they're not asking sorry so you've been saying a lot the past 40 days you still haven't talked about this when will the kingdom be restored to Jerusalem and he said it is not giving to you oh my god to know the times and the seasons with God has in his power he says what you shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you and you shall be witness is found to me meaning your priority is higher as important as that is they're more important priorities here is the word of God so the shepherds are watching the flock by night the angels are shouting good news good news okay if it is not national development what might it be economic empowerment maybe 'Ain't you know what made it even more tempting for them to have that inclination? Just like Moses by his prophetic advantage was able to secure an arrangement with God where bread or man now will fall every day.' Do you know what it means to feed millions of people every day? 'Here we see you different, I assure you. Try it with hunger people every day and see, there will sink your praises and all of that.' And then Jesus multiplies five loaves. Now they're saying him, 'Oh, we get it, we get it, we knew you're a great prophet.' And now they want him to do it every time. This is free restaurant. And they try to deal, trip him into it. Listen, this is very interesting, you need to read that story, very interesting. You say, 'Ah, Moses gave us bread every day.' You said, 'I mean, this mountain for you, show us love.' And he said, 'I am the bread.' What kind of salmon is this? Are we carnivals? What is, what, which kind of lemma be this? We are hungry. What's, what are you salmonizing?' He said, 'I am the bread, calm down from evil, except you eat my flesh and drink my blood.' 'Hey, God, what kind of salmon is this?' That day he lost members. Are you aware? Have you read the story? Some people stopped following him. Let me tell you something, when you study the word of God very well, you will discover that great followership is not always proof of divine approval. That in fact, when God wants to do serious business, he likes to reduce and downsize. Look at the gidian army. He was giving them tasks that a new many ulcerious people will not be able to excel us so that we will know the people who are really serious. And after those thousands of people left, Jesus wasn't sad. He wasn't crying. He will look at the disciples and said, 'Will you also go?' If you heard that someone had 5,000 members and that member she produced to 12, in one day, what would you think about the verses? For Jesus wanted people with the right priority. And so I'm asking you this morning again, is the gospel truly good news to you? Listen, why are you here? Ask yourself that. You know what? I'm helping some of you because some of you you go born again because they played you one very scary simon or one very scary movie about hellfire. And so the reason you accepted the gospel is because you didn't want to go to hell. Are you aware that the gospel offering is more serious than that? That you should want heaven not to escape hell. Listen, if hell was not the only order alternative, really want heaven. And if you want heaven, why? Because of the paralegates? Because the floor is made of gold or because of Jesus. Are you here at all? Are you listening to this? This is important. Is the gospel really good news to you? Without all the embellishments, will you still follow? If you came to Jesus one day and he didn't give you bread, will you go back home? You know, in Luke chapter 12 verse 13, there's another story that tells you how the people saw Jesus. In Luke 12 verse 13, someone came to Jesus and said, please tell my brother to divide inheritance for me. And Jesus said, who made who made me an abitrator over you? Like Jesus was saying, it's not my business. Have you read that in the Bible before? Who made me an abitrator? Okay, it's not national development. It's not economic advancement. Yeah, you provide you bless what you have higher priorities. I hope you know that. Answer me. Okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, I know what it is. I know what it is. Oh, my God. It must be relationship. This one I have a lot to say about what I will move on because of time. You know, in Matthew chapter 22, from verse 20, they came to Jesus and they were asking questions. They start from the earlier verses to get the context. He said, a man died and he didn't have any children. According to our traditional, his wife should marry the next brother. Imagine that happen seven times. In eternity, who will be the husband? Oh, God. I'm telling you, you'll be amazed. Priorities of people. The questions that they ask. I can't tell people the Lord so I know. And Jesus said, you air because you know neither the doctrine or the power of God. You air, you're making a mistake. You are missing it. This is in heaven. They'll be like the angels. Neither marrying or being given to marriage. Listen, newsflash. You see that wife by your side. The moment Jesus comes, he becomes your sister instantly. You see, young single people, that's why I've been advising you get married. If Jesus is coming soon. And if you are so blessed, it's to be on that wedding day. As the organ is playing, would you let me see even if you're beautiful. And she's coming like this. Are you a dick? Crying like like, something way if you're supposed to do things. You would have moved things. In church, you doesn't bless your sister. You see now, you're there crying. Next thing. And as you're ascending like this, you try to hold. I said, come on, brother, you're not supposed to. Your brother is dancing. I am married to Jesus. They go sing for you. Can I talk to our pastors retreat. We're doing an overview of the year last year and the year prior. Looking at our numbers, when streaming numbers were up, when attendees was at his peak, and we discovered the pattern, we discovered that even in celebration church, we have very high attendance in the month of February. I wonder why? I wonder why. Oh, maybe because we talk on relationship throughout February. And every February, we have viral samples. Every, you know, so two years ago, I was talking about how every parent should be suspicious. A lot of children get abused right on that denotes of parents. Watch. Don't just trust. Forzins will come around. They will slip on the same bed. You know, I said watch. Statistically, abusers are really are usually people that you, you are inclined to trust. Watch everybody. Don't, are you listening to me? Why is the light off? What's going on? Sometimes follow, follow. What's going on? Be curious. Another example really went viral. Here is how I know that someone has gone viral. Because you know our parents, they like what stuff they love. Now, someone sends that video to my dad. That's at this video. Watch this video. It's to bless you. So my dad loved that. This is my son. He was like, oh, really? You know. A lot to say about that. You see him now. He went out and preached that anyway. 'bba back to the point last year also the same same thing you know and it does make me wonder because sometimes I do tens of hours of Bible study on covering mysteries in the word you know and all of that and you all just want to hear about love and of all the same ones you know there's a particular excerpt that went to viral you know on Facebook one from 50,000 likes on on Instagram more than 60,000 likes you know don't talk about the comments and all of that and what was intriguing people the fact that I said there was someone that I liked that removed wax from my ear you know soon I mean the last time I went to do more I saw two of these sales ladies talking hey you saw that same one is actually removed wax at you know now after February March comes and we're talking believers authority so something happened in the restroom there's one of us who is a key leader in this church but he's one of those people behind the scenes you will never see him hold the mic you may not see him hold the mic so two guys went in restroom during the summer and we're talking say hi now I'll stay no evil in love with those two days just power power power you know they even cry joke I said now wow as far as stand up for me and maybe as you see some preach so you know the difference because but this is this is serious I know you have grown when your appetites changes are you listening to me this is important the Bible says that the God of this world has blinded the eyes of them that believe not so I'm going to read the text and I'm going to build the rest of my salmon on this three verses turn your Bibles Matthew chapter 12 from the study to 40 Matthew chapter 12 from the study to 40 the Bible says then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him saying teachers show us a sign but the answer that said unto them and evil and adulterous generation six after a sign it says and no sign will be giving to it except for the sign of Jonah he says for us Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish so we're the son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth and so there are three simple messages I want to draw from this number one beware of consumer Christianity what did I say please they came to Jesus and they are like all these mysteries you are teaching Jonah they what consignals with Jonah show us a sign let me tell you something ministers of the gospel here present listen to me because you will answer to God if you are not careful you will fall for this trap because there is a way people can lure you into performance you know there are some meetings they are not in his upon you to teach but in a power generation if you are not careful every meeting break true moving forward today you say bring padlock bring can do bring oil bring granite oil you know let me say this without sense of humility there are men of God who God gave a message for the body of Christ something to emphasize but there is also a tendency for you to miss it and make a message the message because listen when you preach one sermon and it goes viral if you are not careful you will stay there you will stay there before you will know it you will now start hearing things like deliverance ministry healing ministry sometimes it is not that God told them to emphasize that it is that they did it once and it went viral and they said we die yet you can lose your place if you are not careful the people came to Jesus show us a sign he could do it he could get away with it he could get them excited if he did it in Ola if Jesus says speak if God says to Moses speak to the rock and instead of speaking to it you strike it guess what what are we to come out nobody will know but then you have missed it please are you listening to this and this also tells us that there are some prayer points that don't impress God instead they annoy God this one of the place is where you see the emotions the raw emotions of Christ evil and purpose generation you are looking for a sign no sign will be given to you again I'm asking you if all the embellishments were taken out the way will you love Jesus just Jesus listen can we have a generation again where the semon can be efficiency of the tree and we are going diagnostically vest by vest and you will feel blessed some of you stress preachers they will bring props climb ladder some will fall because you have torn everything to two are you listening to me this one your voice is low I will show you a text and then we move on first Corinthians 1 from verse 18 everybody opened this this is so important oh my God thank you Jesus same power that conquered the grave lives in me lives in me oh your love that rescues the earth lives in me lives in me you know I got a crazy testimony this last night I can't wait for the video I said the most do video I want to see with my eye someone in the children's church in Uyo in our Uyo branch went to the landlord's house the landlord had been bed reading for months sick unable to stand up from the bed and said stand up sir stand up daddy and he said I cannot stand up I'm sick and he said be healed in Jesus name the next day demand got up because they are taught to me in church that if you say be healed in Jesus name the person will be healed I hear the person is the child is four years old so the landlord got up oh Jesus I say the devil is in trouble let me tell you something I am more optimistic for the people in our children's church you some of our started learning these truths when we were 20 there about this is what they grew up on get ready problem deal hallelujah first Corinthians of the world was 18 for the message of the cross is foolishness everybody the message of the cross is what let me tell you something maybe you don't understand what you believe you believe that God became a man he's still God but then he's a man and then God died rose again the third day ascended in the clouds and one day he will appear again in the clouds and everyone who believes will ascend to him listen from a logical standpoint especially for those whose eyes the God of this world has blinded that sounds foolish but it's the power of God it's true are you listening to me and so the word of God says the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing on like any other good news that you just announced and instantly everyone agrees something was happening in your heart for you to see this for the glorious message that it is come on are you getting what I'm saying it is foolishness to those who are perishing it says but to us a lot of priests take a palando crassi anybody that falls into this category in this place it's as far to but to us who are being saved it is the power of God tell how they may it means there are aspects of your conviction that when you tell some people they'll be like it's just like in your daily life you can you can be the biggest sports fan and have a friend who doesn't like sports at all and then something exciting happens you're trying to tell the best thing but the best thing can't share your joy and it's all called it's all called foolishness to them who are perishing but to us it is the power of God tell how they may invest 22 he says for the Jews seek a sign that's what they want the Jews seek a sign the Greeks seek after wisdom so what do we do do we become seek a sensitive you know what they want you doing to just give them what they want every Sunday it says box we preach Christ come on are you with me we preach Christ crucified to the Jews in stumbling block it means I know that there are some salmon's not everybody will be interested in but that's the truth anyway I preach it anyway you will allow your brother here something pragmatic all the time but we preach Christ knowing it to be a stumbling block but we preach Christ sell out them in it's stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness it says but to those who are called both Jews and Greeks Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God amen so on we see power in the message of the gospel that he's dying on the cross cross was efficacious for the bloating of our sins and that when he rose again the 30 the body of sin was destroyed forever amen somebody and that whosoever believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life any whosoever in this place hallelujah tell the person by the side say he's talking about me he's talking about me but when you're a consumer Christian first and foremost your faith will not last you know something happened and I'm saying this respectfully the global artist Kanye West woke up one man and I say he's born again and I'm like oh well praise God now what you expect from a new convertist you sit down quietly give him a Bible let him learn but he started jumping from platform to platform you are ministering you are ministering I can speak freely right and you have to understand hmm you forgive me you love me so I'll say there are some pastors who when they see famous people they are more concerned about the clouds they can get from their proximity to them than the actual state of their soul now you call him you're giving him platforms and everything you have not sat him down to advising to teach him the gospel well release the album now you know we we are gullible the album flood every gospel album that's it every people who have been faithful ministering you know in our churches releasing work you know we have a lot to learn anyway and then he came out recently are you a Christian you know I'm I you said he said he was in trouble he called out to Jesus and Jesus didn't answer him so he don't don't hear why call out to God when you can be God so he said he is God and that he answers his own prayers and the reason is simple the version of Christianity that was so to him is the version of Christianity that presents Jesus as a genie in a bottle just rub the right way and then three wishes today what are your wishes so when they call out to Jesus and he didn't receive immediate answers something was wrong I hope that there is still an honest Christian around him who can explain the true gospel to him and I'm saying that so that you don't make the same mistake so listen listen to me so now Jesus tells this people no sign will be given to you no sign some of you that's what is happening in your life you see sometimes God uses miracles to lure you into higher priorities when you're reading the story of Peter having a net breaking catch of fish some of you still missed the point you say oh I know what I will do I will get Jesus to preach in my boots every day you have missed the points you have missed the points when that miracle happened Peter discovered he had been wrong Peter repented he knew he was a sinner you had called me all this while and all I was concerned about was catching fish so Jesus said don't worry nevertheless from hands for to catch me and so Peter dropped his net and followed him sometimes the miracles in your life have to show you higher priorities that you are worried about all these things and God God has higher see meaning if you focus on what God wants you to focus on he would take care of all these things are you getting what I'm saying this is what he's trying to tell you there's a proverb that says there is he that God does and yet does not have it's a paradox of life that some people are hustling for all this wealth this is the reason you won't see them in church they are too busy to pray too busy to study the world too busy to fellowship and yet they're broke and yet there's some people hardworking diligent what will always give God this place and yet they have it's a paradox of life that's where God wants you to be are you listening to this and Easter is a good opportunity to reassess your priority that if God says the sign that will be given to you is the sign of Jonah as Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights social disordered man so the message of the gospel itself would be enough sign to you and you're comfortable satisfied in it that even if every other thing is taking away in peril in nakedness no matter what you face nothing can separate you from the love of Christ please say loud amen the next quick thing I want to talk about what is the sign of Jonah you know I've been a student of church and I've discovered many interesting things I've discovered that false doctrine pays no respect to intellect pays no respect to IQ if you have the wrong teacher you'll be amazed what you will believe if you see very intelligent people with wrong ideologies you'll be amazed study called leaders in the past you go to a place and you see hundreds of people dead on the floor they are passed off persuaded them to drink poison these are things that happen and you think that amongst them you just see illiterate now you are seeing medical doctors how could you believe this don't joke with false information and some of us have not learned to read the Bible objectively it's also what we are talking for instance in this Jonah story some of you really believe that Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days three nights and he did not die because in some Bible story David puts a picture of the belly of the fish in the belly of the fish there was table there was a lamb stand and so he nailed put his hand on the table I was praying like this praying to be thought now you can be a graduate of medicine and believe that but think about it now Jesus said the sign of Jonah was a prophetic metaphor of what was going to happen to him that as Jonah was in the fish his belly social he be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights meaning Jonah died and rose again I will also die and rise again listen anyway the way some of you are looking you need more persuasion look look at Jonah chapter two very quickly Jonah chapter two from verse one then Jonah prayed to the Lord God from the fish his belly right now pay attention verse two and he said I cried out to the Lord because of my affliction and he answered me out of the belly of Sheel. Not out of the belly of the fish, but out of the belly of Sheel. Sheel is the place of the dead, departed spirits. So it tells you that Jonah had already had an out of body experience. You know what that is, right? Pay attention now. He says, "For you cast me into the deep into the heart of the seas." So he's already descending. He's in the sea now. And the flood surrounds me. All your billows and your waves have passed around me. I have been cast out of your sights. Yet I will look towards your holy temple. This is the cry of someone descending into the depths and the regions of the grave. Come on, I'll get what I'm saying. He says, "Your waters have surrounded me even to my soul. The deep close around me weeds have wrapped around my head. I went down to the morons of the mountain. The earth with its bars are closed behind me forever." If you know what Sheel looked like, that place that was described in the story of the rich rich man and Lazarus. You'll understand what is happening here. The earth has closed these bars around me forever. So Jonah died and God raised him up. Give him a second chance. And that was to tell us prophetically of what Christ was going to do. Sell out their men. The first thing I want to draw from that story. So don't forget, while reading Matthew chapter 12, right? 38 to 40. The first thing is that Jesus says, even if no sign is given to you but the sign of Jonah, you should be content in it. That the message of the gospel is exciting enough amen to somebody. And secondly, to understand what the sign of Jonah is. That Jonah died, rose again. Jesus will die and rise again. And he has died and his alive. Sell out their men. And number three, the message of Jonah. Now, I'm going to talk on this for a few minutes then we pray and we're out of here. For like, for many of us, I thought that Jonah's problem was that he was afraid to obey God. You know, maybe there's a call on your life and you are shy. You are afraid that if you start and you step out audaciously, you will fail. You just think that Jonah had a problem with bravery, which is why when God asked him to go to Nineveh, he instead went to Tashish. But that's not what happened. That's not what happened. Let me tell you what happened. Jonah knew of the people of Nineveh. They were weekend. Exceedingly weekend people. And he wanted God to punish them, finish them. Are there ever been people in your life who won't go to punish and finish? Has it ever happened that you expected God to deal with some people? And it looks like they were even flourishing more. In fact, when you started beefing them, it's when they started prospering more. Sometimes we want God to join us in our witchcraft. Tonya Babu's Jonah chapter four. Jonah and Job have something in common. A lot of people who think they know the story only read the first chapter. Why didn't Jonah want to go to Nineveh? Because he knew that God was only sending him there to give Nineveh a second chance. And he didn't want Nineveh to have any chance at all. They deserve to die. Kill them. So when he sent, when he went there, he didn't preach well. He didn't want them to believe. He just said, get ready. All of you would die. He thought there would be arrogance. All right. But much to his dismay, when they headed, they came declared they fast. Everybody repented. Even your animals must not eat. And now the whole country repented and the man of God was angry. Here what he said. So that's two. Okay, from verse one, but it displeased Jonah exceedingly. He became angry. So he prayed to the Lord and said, oh Lord, was not this what I said when I was still in my country. This is why I was running away. This is why I don't want to go. Therefore, I fled previously to Tashish. For I know that you are what is gracious. This is why I don't want to go because I know you. You are gracious. You are merciful. You are slow to anger. Abundant in loving kindness. What would it length from doing harm? I want you to destroy these people. Why are you sending me to them? You know, and then God is so merciful. Think about it. You might have been wondering why will a prophet just go on one whole nation and all of them will repent? I will tell you why. Because the head will happen to Egypt. The head will happen to Egypt. Just imagine a big nation doing a lot of evil. Then you see a Hebrew prophet. And he said, God said, ah, ah, I want you to learn from Hebrew. The King of the Universe said, if anybody eats for this nation, try me. He said, we are most fasts. I must not see they all repent at the instant. And the man of God became angry. Let me tell you something about the God of the Bible. The God of the Bible is so good. He annoys religious people. I can't guarantee some people in heaven, they'll be annoyed. There are people you will see. The annoyance will be plenty. Jonah said, I know. Jonah knows that even if God says, I'm angry, tell them I will destroy them. He is loving. He is kind. Guess what? This is the Old Testament. Some of you have thought God changed the New Testament. God became soft. No, he has always been merciful and loving and kind. And gracious, are you listening to this? I know that you are merciful and kind. I can tell you one thing for sure, the Jesus, a lot of people preach, are foreign. It's foreign to the scriptures. There's no Jesus like that. That's not the Jesus of the Bible. It is true that some people take the grace message to the extreme and use it to promote lasciviousness and licentiousness. But the Jesus of the Bible is merciful and gracious. So much so that even you, if you were in issues, there were some things you would have done differently. Okay, quite all right. The woman got in the bed of adultery. There's a lot of hypocrisy surrounding it. First and foremost, why catch only one person? Where is the man? Was she committing adultery with herself? So this was an obvious case of religious patriarchy. You just want to be wicked to this woman. And so I can understand why you say, here that is without sin, cast the festoon. First and foremost, I can tell you one thing for sure, the church those days was more honest than our church today because if you try that, some people will be hypocrite. Oh my god, you've nothing hypocrite in the church. There will be people critical enough to stay stone. You have no sin. You have no sin, people. They will never agree. Are you aware that some people will argue with you that they can make heaven by their efforts? They will argue. Ah, I've heard the greatest things I tell you. But then, quite all right, everybody has gone. And then you look at her and say, where are you accusers? Why is Jesus preaching? Let me ask you the true question. If you saw a preacher hand do the case of adultery like that, what will you think? Have you ever thought about that, where are your accusers? No one left to accuse you, neither do I. You see, let me tell you something, has it ever happened to you that you are ready to forgive, but you don't want the person to think it's easy like that? So you fast front, small, Jesus did not even do small shakara. 'Oya, niw down' 'I'll follow me with your knees.' 'Follow me.' 'Oya, say, 'I'm sorry, 2000 times, I'm sorry, one, I'm sorry, two.' 'Some of you, eh, you put your trauma into the Bible.' 'I respect God to be like your weak edge relative.' 'No one left to accuse you.' 'Need that, do I? Go and see no more.' Because the message impacts the ability for performance. 'Sail out the men.' 'Feeling bad is good, but it's not the power of the gospel.' 'You don't have to be born again to feel bad.' 'I hope you know that.' 'I hope you know there are some unbelievers who do the wrong thing and when you see them, they feel bad.' 'When someone has been stealing and you're catching, unbeliever, you're catching, you feel bad at least for that moment.' 'I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Guess what? Feeling bad is not the power of God unto salvation.' 'The gospel is, are you getting this?' 'Listen, make no mistake, there's another extreme. If you don't feel bad, it's a serious signal.' 'It means maybe you are reprobates. One of the signs that you are still saved is that you still have a sensitivity to see. 'When you do the wrong thing, it should prick your heart. But at the same time, your faith is not based on how you get in this.' 'It's not based on how bad you feel. It's based on the message.' 'I'll give you another example. Look at the woman at the well.' 'Do women at the well? You have five horsebanks and still have a sidebow, bowler, straight.' 'You don't understand. Look at the patience with which Jesus preached to that woman, the patience.' 'You know, I've said it. The church today is more concerned about being noble than being evangelical.' 'Fest and foremost, not many pastors, we want to be seen around such a lady to begin with.' 'There's a level of ministry you get to. You're expected to be transcendent. We shouldn't see you. What are you doing?' And the culture was that strong in those days. Let me tell you something, really the Bible carefully. Are you ready for this? This will blow your mind. Think about it. Jesus, by prophetic gifts, knew that that woman was coming, but knew that the religious attitudes of the disciples who stopped him from witnessing to her. So he said, 'I'm hungry. Go and find food for me.' 'Oh, never don't don't you. When they left, that's when he ensued with the conversation. By the time they came back.' He was already done, and when they gave him the food, did he eat? He's called a roto. Oh my God, they are not here. You do grow up in an African home. Tell the neighbor you want a roto. That's what he did for you. He sent them away. 'May the Lord not do this to some people in the church. There are some people who forgot to reach the violence of a friend that he has to remove them.' He removed them so that he can reach people who need to be reached. The Jesus of the Bible. The Jesus of the Bible is more concerned about impact than about reputation. That when he seated with Pharisees and notable people in the religious elite of those days, and the woman who is a known sinner, let me tell you something. When you are so bad that the Pharisee knows you. That's like, 'Oh my God, this is hell now.' And then guess what? Have you read the Bible? The Bible says, 'In fact, the Pharisee was sitting in his heart. This is not a man of God. If it was a man of God, you know that this woman is a sinner.' Just imagine. You heard Jesus is coming for your conference. You've been hearing about him, and then when you enter the room, you see a lady at his foot. She's point all on his leg, and she's doing this. Hello, she'll let go. I'm telling you. When you start reading the Bible, you know that you don't know God at all. And just doing like this, the Pharisees said, 'He's not a man of God. If it was a man of God, you would know who this woman is.' And this is what Jesus said. Oh my God. He said, 'If two people owed some money, one, ten thousand denari.' The other one denari, and you forgive them equally. Who are you forgiving more? He said, 'The person that owed ten thousand denari.' Is that you? The reason why I have been here, you have never poured oil on my leg. It's because you are righteous. You don't have much to be forgiven of. He says, 'Because this woman, the extent of her sin has made her appreciate the extent of the forgiveness.' You don't understand. Some of you were born in church. You only got born again because you didn't want to go to hell. There are some people who have done terrible things. Terrible things. A man of God sat in my office weeks ago when he told me things he has done. He stopped halfway, and I was already like, 'Eh.' He said, 'Pastor, did I ever tell you I was in the courts?' I said, 'You.' If you, 'Yeah, he's strong, it's now dada.' I said, 'Jesus is wonderful, Lord.' Oh my God. There was this boy in our second school, Horrible. Horrible. You know, there are some students that teach us are afraid of. He was a terror every day, every day they'll be news. He would do something every day. Regula. Just look out the window from any class. Look on that tree. He's kneeling down every day. And when he kneels, if he looks around, notice how he's watching. He would roll, roll, roll, jump over the fence. We used to watch him every day. And then I was on social media, and I saw his speech, 'Ha!' I said, 'God, you're the same, eh?' He would say, 'See him preaching the gospel in the UK, very mentally on the streets.' 'Ha!' I had to call someone. I said, 'Wait, wait, wait, wait.' She had my eye to pay me. Is that his boy? He said, 'He's the one.' I said, 'What happened?' He said, 'They fell in love with one. Serious, Christian.' And she said, 'Of course, he was never going to pay my attention.' So if he first started playing, coming to church, trying to get attention and all of that, and the word of God hooked him. See, let me tell you something. Ladies. You see those unserious boys that follow you to church. You know you may never say yes. But bring them, bring them, give them books to read. Message is to listen to, leave the rest to the Holy Ghost, even. But anyway, I said that to say this. They may be here. Now, maybe they followed you in the name of Insta Sunday. But you know, you know what they are looking for. You want to say that there's lyrics for your sake, 'I will go church.' You are welcome. You are welcome. You know, two weeks ago, someone told me how a lady invited him to church, and he was just like, she kept inviting him so he just came. Big boy. So, at some point in the service, something came on him and he started crying. Big boy. He said, he tried to stop. He couldn't stop. His friends were laughing at him. Hard guy. He was crying throughout the service. So, after the service, his friends laughed at him, little boy. He knew he touched something, so he came the next Sunday. And he came the Sunday after that. He came this only after that. It's been eight months now. Jesus is wonderful. I tell you. Glory to God. Just give people the chance. Give people the chance. Release them to the God of the Bible. Let him shower love on them. Are you with me? Now think about it. There are some people who have done some great just things. They believe God will never forgive them. Just like that prostitute. But Jesus is sitting in the other way round. If you are going so much, if I forgive you, you will love more. You will appreciate this more. Come on. Are you with me? And Jesus is saying, you bitter. Are you charged? Boy, you've not done anything. The reason this lady is appreciating, appreciating this thing as much as this is because she knows what she's talking. It doesn't matter where you've been, what you've done. God sees you. God loves you. He shared his blood for you. Listen, and he did it ahead of time. He can't change his mind. He has loved you already. And the Bible says, "Whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life." I read one last text and then we close. If you're here and you're no born again, what's better day to believe than it is? Look at Luke, chapter 4, verse 25. Thank you, Jesus. Oh, thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord. Jesus, many times who prioritize the via less of it offend us. People religious folks don't want to be seen around. You are the priority of God in this season. And so Jesus says this, and Luke, chapter 4, from verse 25, he says, "But I tell you truly, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah." You know, when you read that story, all you think of is the miracle a prophet came, he gave him food, you know, and then God multiplied what she had left. But it didn't dawn on you. This woman was not an Israelite. She was from Zarafat. I'm going to talk on this letter and I'm going to explain how important that is. Don't you understand Israel were the elect of God? And what did the election mean? It means they were giving to know the true God. They had the Old Testament. They had the scriptures. They knew the true God. They had a temple. So if someone was going to worship God in those days, how are you going to worship God? There is no temple. It is now that you can say the hours come and now is where the true worshipers who worship the father in spirit and in truth worship once upon a time had their place had their location. There was a place where worship ought to be done in Jerusalem. So how will you worship if there was no temple around you? And God looked beyond all those traditional limitations. Are you with me? And still found honest people looking for him and he saved them. People like Graham all their head was the message. God who parked at in Red Sea, that must be the true God of the universe and she believed. And now you find her name in Hebrews 11 amongst the heroes of faith. People who just believed and I'm telling you many times God appreciates them more than many religious people who have allowed religion to slow them down from true imparts. And so God says there were many widows in Israel. Come on, I get in this. It says when the heaven was shut up three years and six months and when there was great ferment throughout the land, it says but to none was Elijah's sense except Zarafat in the region of Sidon to a woman who was in widow. And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elijah, the prophet and none of them was clans except now man, the Syrian. The very thing you thought this qualified you from his grace is what is qualifying you. He wants to prove the extent of his love, the extent of his grace, the extent of his kindness, the Bible says in Ephesians 2.7 that in the age is to come, he might shoot the exceeded reaches of his grace and his kindness towards us in Christ Jesus. He did it in the life of Paul. That's why Paul could say it confidently. He said me, chief of sinners, chief of sinners, he has forgiven me. Wash me with his own blood. He said he has used him as a pattern. If God could save Paul, Paul, who was instrumental to the death of fellow Christians, is nobody he cannot say. Come and are you with me? Thank him. Do it from your heart. Thank you Jesus. You've given me life. You've opened my eyes. I love you Lord. I love you Lord. I love you Lord. I love you Lord. Thank him, say. I love you Lord. I love you Lord. I love you Lord. Sing it again, say. I love you Lord. I love you Lord. Thank you. One more time. You've given me life, say. I love you Lord. I love you Lord. I love you Lord. Sing it again, say. I love you Lord. I love you Lord. I love you Lord. Thank you Lord. I love you Lord. I love you Lord. I love you Lord. I hope you know this one. You are worthy of all honor. All glory to your name. You are Lord. Bees of the highest praise and forever. You will reign. You are Lord. Thank you Jesus. Thank you Father. Thank you. I want to give you 20 seconds. Just thank him again for the salvation of your soul. As you do that with the eyes of the Spirit. See the price that he paid. How he went to the cross for you. Blood for you. There's an old song that says, "All the way to cavalry he went." For me, he was for me, he was for me All the way to cavalry, he was for me He died too sad for me Are you great for this more than safe for me? To cavalry, he went for me, he went for me He went for me, he went for me He went while I couldn't go away, he went for me, he died too sad for me He went for me, he went for me He went while I couldn't go away, he went for me He died too sad for me, he died and was and gave me victory I have been told I am serving a living God His name is Jesus Christ, he died, he died Then rose and gave me victory I have been told through that twice and we close I am serving I am serving a living God He died, he died and rose and gave me victory I have been told Hallelujah, praise the Lord glory, glory, glory and it is in his name that we have victory Thank you for listening We are sure that you have been blessed For inquiries, reach us in our help line, 0809 996 7000 blessings